Holga hpl-op pinhole is not a pinhole?

[richmond23236]

Hi,
I just received a HOLGA HPL-OP
lens, which I am using on a M4/3 camera.

I am somewhat familiar with pinhole photography, but am confused a bit by what I found with this specific lens.

Noting that the image quality was not exactly what I had anticipated, I investigated the both the objective and subjective surfaces of the lens.

Not finding a 'pinhole', I encountered small diameter aperture...with what appears to be a clear lens or covering through which light passes.

At least one surface of this clear
lens/flat/etc is speckled with matte black paint. The speckle pattern is irregular to the extent that I do not believe that it is a feature of the lens (as in a zone plate or sieve).

Is this the correct presentation of this lens, or is this a defect?

 

[meyerweb]

https://www.mu-43.com/f110/holga-hpl-op-pinhole-speckled-paint-29782/#post290929

 

[BAKatz]

I have the one from Pinwide. It's great. Set the dial to M, and change to a longer exposure. Set the timer for 2 sec. You may have to tweak the exposure or even set to B.
As in film pinhole, it can be hit or miss. Difference is, now you can just erase what you don't like